STRAYDOG blog

August 5, 2012

Banksy for design gold

Popular street artist, BANKSY will has something to say and is aiming for a Gold Medal at the London Olympics.

Banksy posted photos on his website of his latest works: “Hackney Welcomes the Olympics” and “Going for Mould.” Both stencils, locations unknown, are Olympic-themed and may trouble the International Olympic Committee which maintains an iron fist over Olympic branding, not to mention the British Transport Police (BTP), which have been busy arresting alleged street artists and banning them from coming within a mile of any Olympic venue.

The Guardian reported last week that the BTP had begun a pre-emptive sweep of alleged graffiti artists in preparation for the London Games. Street artists in London have also told the BBC that, “walls which they say have not been touched in years are now being cleaned off.”

If and when Banksy’s new pieces are found, officials may want to think twice about removing the world-renown artist’s work. This year an original Banksy artworks sold for over £400,000 at an auction in London. In the ever-present battle of street art vs. vandalism, Banksy’s form of self expression has grown from being viewed as a criminal act to a valuable commentary on society.

Don’t be fooled by the mattress: Banksy’s not taking it lying down. While the police round up graffiti artists – even those who only paint legally – and ban them from public transport, bar them from within a mile of all Olympic venues, and make possession of spray paint illegal, there are hopes that we’re about to be treated to a proper campaign by the most powerful street artist of them all.